Bridget and I have been back from our holiday for just over two weeks, Olivia is now completely fine – thank god and back to her happy little self. It's Friday night and I've had a long, tiring week at work, on Monday I have been volunteered by Marcus to teach an Introduction to Criminal Law class…at Wentworth! I couldn't believe it when he told me the prison name – of course I phoned Vera and she has given me the go ahead to teach it. The class will run for six weeks, so far the sign-up isn't great – however Vera seems to think that will drastically change once word gets around that I'm the one taking it. All the girls are still in according to Vera, it'll be good seeing them, I mean, we used to communicate back and forth, especially Boomer and I, but life just got in the way and we haven't spoken at all since before Bridget got pregnant.
"Hey baby, how are you feeling about Monday then? Will it be weird for you? I hope you get on okay." Bridget appears in the Livingroom, carrying Olivia – having just changed her, she sits down next to me on the sofa.
"Hey Gidge, I'm feeling fine about it, I guess it's going to be a bit weird seeing the girls after all this time, I've not sent anything in over a year either so I'm not sure what sort of reception to expect, but it will be nice to see them too, I'm not nervous though." Bridget shifts Olivia over into my arms, I put her on my legs and giggle her a bit, she really enjoys when I do this for some reason.
"That's good, I bet they'll like seeing you – mind you, it'll be a bit strange considering how close you are now with Vera and Will!" she has a good point there actually.
"Yeah, I never really thought of that, I guess everyone changes and so do their friends."
"Indeed they do, anyway, let's get Olivia put to bed, you look totally exhausted." Olivia is now sleeping in the crib in her own room, we finally decided it was time – she's only across the hall anyway so it's hardly far.
"I am knackered! The case this week really took it out of me, bedtime it is then." I say with a smile as we take Olivia to her crib.
Monday morning comes around much faster than I would have liked, the weekend was good though – we didn't do much, just enjoyed each other's company. I woke up an hour ago – I'll need to leave half an hour earlier than usual given the extra drive time to Wentworth. For once, Bridget awakened at the same time as me this morning, wanting to double check I'm completely prepared for the day ahead.
"Gidge, I'll be fine okay? It's kinda cute when you get all protective and worry about me but really, I'm looking forward to teaching the class – it'll be a new experience. Oh, and I even get my own desk and everything! I'm going to be just like you when you teach your students!" I say with a smile, then lean in and kiss her passionately on the lips.
"You know I can't help but worry sometimes, but I know you'll be fine – and wow a desk, eh? Sounds fancy babe." She kisses me this time then I wrap my arms tightly around her and hold her close, not quite ready to leave just yet.
At 9am I am standing in the carpark of the all too familiar place, I look towards the staff entrance, then make my way towards the gate, ready as I'll ever be. Once through security, I am led towards Vera's office by a 'Screw' I don't recognise, 'hmm probably should call them guards or something now' I think as I walk.
"Ah Franky! Good morning – how are you?" Vera walks over and we give each other a quick hug as a greeting.
"Morning Vera, I'm good thanks – looking forward to teaching the class, should be a good opportunity for the women." I don't feel comfortable calling them 'inmates' since I was one, I don't feel like it's a nice label to be given.
"Good to hear Franky – okay well here is your ID card, this will let you move about freely, obviously it goes without saying to keep this on your person at all times, we don't want this ending up in the wrong hands."
"Understood loud and clear. When will the class start then?"
"It will begin at 10am, so I'll get Will to escort you to the study room and you can get your desk set up and anything else you need to do before the women start to arrive – if you need anything further just say and I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks Vera, I think I should be fine but I'll bear that in mind. Oh, actually just while I remember, Bridget wanted to invite you and Will round Saturday, just a small dinner party, if you can both make it." I smile at Vera, just then Will walks in.
"Will, Franky and Bridget want to invite us round on Saturday, they're having a dinner party."
"Sounds great, I love going round to your house for food Franky, it's always my favourite!" I laugh as I look at the scowl that's appeared on Vera's face.
"Oh watch out Will, maybe not the best thing to say in front of the fiancé!" Will just starts to nervously laugh and then signals for me to follow him out of the room. I follow him, waving at Vera as I go.
"So Franky, how are the wife and kid then? It's been a few weeks since I've seen them." I can't help the wide grin I give Will at his mention of my family.
"They're great – Olivia is getting big! Just wait until you see her on Saturday!"
"How old is she now then?" Will asks, just as we approach the study room.
"She's 11 weeks – it's going in far too fast! She's even started laughing, it's so funny when she does it."
"Wow that's amazing – ha can't wait to see that on Saturday. Anyway, here we are – you can set up in here, it's H block only for this course, the ones that signed up will be along in 15 minutes or so."
"Great, thanks Will, if I don't see you later I'll see you Saturday, I'll get Bridget to text with a time." He nods then walks away, leaving me to it.
I get notebooks, pencils, textbooks and other essentials set up at each desk space for the impending arrivals – I also get my desk set up for the day with my laptop, connecting it to the projector – well I think I have – this will allow me to bring up various articles and law journals.
Before I know it, there are women starting to walk into the room, a few spaces start to fill up.
"Shut the front door! Franky?!" I turn around, smiling as I hear the familiar voice.
"Sup, Red? Surprised to see me?" Bea walks over to where I stand at my desk, eyebrows raised and mouth slightly agape.
"What the hell are you doing here? Wait, are you this big hot shot lawyer they've been telling us is coming?" Bea says, in even more disbelief.
"Well, you got the 'hot' bit right Red" I wink and we both start to laugh.
"Still the same Franky I see, what's it been, like 4 years?"
"Yeah, just over 4 now – crazy I know, we'll need to try and catch up more – I'll ask Vera about visiting H Block – we can call it extra tuition."
"Extra tuition? You hitting on me Doyle?" Bea laughs again.
"Nope, married woman now, remember Red?" I hold up my left hand for emphasis.
"Shit, yeah I forgot about the psych! Right anyway catch up later, place is getting full, I need to grab a seat."
Just as I think everyone has arrived, in walks Liz, Doreen and Boomer. Who all stop in their tracks and stare at me.
"Alright ladies, how's it going?" I say to them, Boomer is first out of her trance and walks over to me, enveloping me in a giant hug, followed closely by the other two.
"Franky, you're the one teaching the class?" Liz asks, in slight shock at seeing me.
"The one and only – listen, I'm going to try get permission to visit H2 later today and we can all have a proper catch up, but for now I'm sort of on the clock." I say with an apologetic smile.
"No worries love, that would be great if you can manage that later." Liz says, then the three of them take the last remaining seats.
"Hi everyone, welcome to the Introductory class for Criminal Law – as some of you already know, my name is Franky Westfall-Doyle and I'm a partner at the law firm Strathon&Myers, it's hoped this first class will give you some basic knowledge on how best to prepare for parole hearings – whether your own or to help others. I'll be available at some other points out with class hours if anyone needs extra help or has a hearing coming up they would like to prepare for, I would be more than happy to take a look at individual cases."
Everything in the class is going great, for the first hour we look at the textbooks I brought – looking at some old case law examples – however the more up-to-date ones are on my laptop so that will be the next part of the class.
"Right everyone, I'm going to get some newer case laws brought up on the projector, I have attached my laptop to it but I'm not the best with technology, so just bear with me for a bit and I'll try and perceiver." I smile at them all as I walk over to my desk to put my password into my laptop. It unlocks and I can't help the smile that forms when I see my background photo appear – one of myself, Bridget and Olivia, a selfie actually – that I took Christmas morning when Olivia was dressed in the adorable elf costume and Bridget and I had silly Santa hats on. I have Olivia snuggled into my left arm, as Bridget holds her little hand and I snap the photo with my free right hand.
I look up from my laptop, noticing everyone – especially my four former cell buddies are looking up above my head at something. I turn around – only to see the photo I have been staring at is now projected up on the large screen, I guess I'm better with technology than I give myself credit for. 'Oh well I guess the cat is out the bag' I think as I look back out at the faces in front of me.
"Well Franky, I see you and Westfall have been busy! And you've gone soft in your old age, cute photo!" Bea is the first to break the silence, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Umm, yeah you could say that I guess – I was going to tell you guys later on but yep, Bridget and I had a little girl." I smile at the four recognisable faces.
"Wait, you're a mum?" Boomer asks me with wide eyes.
"I know, who would have ever thought – but it's true! She's almost three months old now."
"Wow, congrats Franky – come on girls, let her finish teaching the class, we can get details later." Liz says.
"Yeah, I'll see you four later on, thanks Liz."
Once class is over for the day, I get the permission needed from Vera to visit H2 for an hour or so, which I'm very thankful to her for.
"Hey guys, where's the party?" I ask as I walk into my former home.
"Franky!" I hear collectively.
"The one and only, told you guys I'd come visit – how is everyone?"
"Well, well, she returns!" I might have bloody known she'd be here; damnit I can honestly say I'd forgotten all about her when I arranged this.
"Kim Chang, still here?" I say coldly to her, trying to focus my attention on the others.
"I came back for you Franky! Then you just left me in here!"
"So girls, much happening?" I say, trying to ignore Kim.
"Not much Franky, we're all more interested about you, what's her name then?" Liz asks, as I take a seat with her, Bea, Boomer and Doreen at the table.
"Why are you lot so interested in her latest fuck? She's probably some fancy bitch like that one she was screwing while in here!" Kim better watch her mouth, I can feel my rage building but I'm doing what I can to contain it. Bea obviously senses this and steps in.
"What the hell are you talking about Chang? Shut your mouth, you clearly don't know a thing. Do you want to tell her Franky?" I silently thank Bea for stepping in.
"Sure Red, well guys her name is Olivia Sophia Westfall-Doyle, like I said earlier she's 11 weeks old now and we're so in love with her." I can't help myself, I look straight at Kim as I say the words out loud.
"Hold up, Westfall? You married that skinny little scrag?!" I stand up so quickly at her words, my seat flies back, Bea is quick to react and pulls me towards her, before I say or do anything I'll regret.
"I'll handle this Franky." Bea simply states, letting me go and walking over to Kim, who now looks terrified.
"You! Shut that mouth of yours and leave us right now, unless you want to have to deal with me later, I suggest you walk away, while you still can." Kim moves fast, practically running out of H2 and down the corridor.
"Thanks Red, don't think Bridget would be too happy with me if she found out I got in a fight!"
"Anyway enough about Kim Chang Franky, how did you have a baby exactly?" Boomer asks and I can't help but laugh.
"I just used my dick Booms." I deadpan to her, the other three are trying not to laugh but Boomer is looking at me in shock.
"Wha- I never knew Franky! You really didn't seem like you did! How come you never told me." She's looking at me and using an accusatory tone. That's when none of us can help from bursting out laughing.
"Nah, I'm just messing Booms!"
"Hey, did you guys no she was lying?!"
"Of course! You really think we wouldn't have noticed living so close for years!" Doreen says.
"Whatever! So how you do it then?" Boomer asks again.
"Right okay basically, we used my egg, donor sperm and Bridget carried her. That's it really." I say, matter of fact this time.
"Huh, it's amazing the things they can do now, isn't it?" Liz replies.
"It is indeed, we're just so happy now, I mean I was happy before but this has now made my life complete I think." I smile at them all.
"It's great to hear you're doing so well on the outside Franky; I think I speak for us all when I say we're all really happy for you." Bea says to me and the others agree.
We talk for a little while longer but then time is up and I need to get home anyway, we say goodbye and I tell them I'll see them next week for the second class.
Bridget POV
I'm standing in the kitchen making dinner for Franky and I, Olivia has been fed and changed, after dinner we will both do bath time with her – Franky doesn't like to miss putting her to bed each night so I tend to wait until she is home from work. The food is almost ready when I hear the front door open, I'm not sure what to expect from my wife tonight – she has no doubt had an unusual day – being back at Wentworth after all.
"Gidge – wow that smells amazing! You didn't have to cook all this baby oh, while I remember Vera and Will are good for Saturday." Franky says as she comes up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
"Hey – well I wanted to because I love you. That's good they can make it then, I'll text the others later." I say simply, turning to give Franky a welcome kiss on the lips.
"I missed you today." She says as she holds me a little tighter – burying her head in the crook of my neck.
"I missed you too – how was today then?" I ask, as she lifts her head up – now looking me in the eyes.
"It went better than I thought it would – not gonna lie, it was weird, but good at the same time seeing everyone – well almost everyone." Franky says, averting her gaze from mine as she says the last part.
"What is that supposed to mean? Who did you see that you didn't want to run into?" I ask, genuinely concerned my wife has had a bad encounter.
"Ugh, I don't want to go in to any details really, but as I was visiting the girls in H2, Kim Chang walked in, started bad mouthing as usual – luckily Bea put her in her place so it was all good, don't worry – I promise I didn't do anything stupid, I held in my anger." She says, looking back to make eye contact again.
"Okay, I'm guessing whatever she said had to do with me then?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"Yes it did, but Kim Chang is full of shit and I don't want to talk about it okay? Please, let's just enjoy dinner then we can give Olivia her bath and put her to bed."
"Okay, okay – that's fine darling. Just one question though, will you be okay going back for the next five weeks of the course? After the incident I mean?"
"I'll be fine, don't worry. Kim can say whatever she likes, she's just jealous anyway, at the end of the day I get to come home to my perfect little family and she's locked in a cell, I'd be envious as well."
"That's all I wanted to know – just be careful, we know how scheming she can be." I can't help but think of everything that went down while Franky was still inside, after all it was her accusations at the time that basically got me fired.
"You don't need to tell me twice!" Franky says, I can tell she's thinking the same as me.
"Oh, by the way Gidge, you should have seen the girls faces when they found out about Olivia! They knew about you from my letters, but I never told them about her. I had my laptop hooked up to the projector and that selfie I took on Christmas morning is my laptop screensaver and it got projected on the big screen, their faces were priceless!" Franky can hardly tell me because she's started to laugh.
"Oh god, I bet that was a shock for them! Did they even believe you were her mum?" I say, imaging the faces of Franky's former cell buddies.
"Well they seemed to believe me, I think they were just shocked by how much my life has changed since I got out."
"Hmm, probably just surprised, from top dog to top mummy in four short years, eh?" we're both laughing hard now.
"Ha! Yeah that's probably exactly what they were thinking! Good one babe. Anyway, I'm starving, is the food ready?"
"Yes it is! Go sit down and I'll bring it over." I give Franky a quick kiss then sends her to the dining table as I return to the kitchen to plate up.
Half an hour later, we have Olivia's small bathtub set up in the Livingroom in front of the fire. Franky is holding her in it while I was her with a sponge.
"She's a bit squirmy tonight Gidge, I'm getting soaked here!" Franky moans as Olivia's little hand hits the water again, sending more water in Franky's direction.
"Well babe, I did say you should take your shirt off, maybe you'll listen to me more in the future." I say, smirking at my wife as I notice just how wet her light grey shirt now is.
"Gidge, can you just hurry up please, god if I wanted my own bath I would have had one!" I can't help but laugh at how over-dramatic Franky is being over some water.
"Okay, okay I'm done – take her out Franky." My wife is quick to lift the now fully crying Olivia out of the tub – wrapping her in a fluffy white towel.
"Right, I'll dry her off – you want to go get her sleep onesie and then we can get her in the crib." Franky says and I leave the room to get it.
We get Olivia all ready to be put down for the night, she's still being fussy but Franky is good at calming her – she is sat with Olivia in the rocking chair, trying to soothe her.
"Don't know what's up with her tonight, I've done all the usual but nothing seems to be working." Franky looks exhausted – it's now after 9.30pm and she's been up since 6am.
"Here, give her to me Franky – you go get ready for bed and I'll come in once she's down for the night, okay?" Franky stands, handing Olivia over to me in the process and I now sit down in the rocking chair.
"Okay, hopefully she'll fall asleep soon."
Twenty minutes later, I walk in to the bedroom having finally gotten Olivia to fall asleep. Franky is fast asleep, hugging her pillow tightly. I get changed quickly, then slip into bed beside my wife, she must sense me joining her because soon enough, a strong arm comes around my waist, holding me protectively – this is by far one of my favourite parts of the day.